NFL Players Are Calling Out The League For The Ban On “Hip-Drop Tackle”

The NFL said on Monday that its owners had accepted a proposed rule banning the swivel hip-drop tackle.

NFL Players Are Calling Out The League For The Ban On “Hip-Drop Tackle”

The NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, strongly hinted last week that the rule will likely be enforced similarly to the “use of helmet” rule, which usually results in warning letters and fines in the week following a game rather than flags during play. The violation will result in a 15-yard penalty if flagged during games.

According to Rich McKay, head of the competition committee, the idea to outlaw hip-drop tackling was solely intended to address a portion of the rugby tackling technique that has been more popular in the NFL in recent years.

The tackling method frequently causes injuries to the lower body.

On occasion, offensive players have seen defenders utilize their full weight to dive to the ground and make a tackle, trapping their legs beneath them. Following an injury sustained on a hip-drop tackle, tight end Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Ravens missed the last six games of the 2023 regular season.

The NFLPA issued a statement last week opposing the proposed ban.
“The players oppose any attempt by the NFL to implement a rule prohibiting a ‘swivel hip-drop’ tackle,” the statement read. “While the NFLPA remains committed to improvements to our game with health and safety in mind, we cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans. We call on the NFL, again, to reconsider implementing this rule.”

Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt led a chorus of current and past players who criticized the NFL’s decision on Monday, voicing their displeasure with ongoing rule modifications that favor offensive players.

J.J. Watt, a retired actor, was one of the decision’s most outspoken opponents, expressing his disappointment on social media. “Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them…” Watt compared the ban to flag football’s no-contact rules in a tweet.

“Do we have a problem?” McKay questioned the hip-drop tackle in a rhetorical manner. “The answer was yes.”

According to McKay, it would be “a hard one to call on the field.” Additionally, he explained that there was a distinction between a hip-drop tackle and the particular type of “swivel hip-drop tackle” that the league is trying to outlaw.

“We cannot support a rule change that causes confusion for us as players, for coaches, for officials and especially, for fans,” concluded the statement.

Furthermore, the following two proposals were accepted:

Following the completion of one successful task, teams will be given a third. Teams used to have to complete two tasks successfully in order to advance to the third. The Lions proposed the idea.

The team last in possession will keep the ball following enforcement of its foul, provided it did not foul prior to last in possession, if there is a double foul during a down in which there is a change or changes of possession, including if one of the fouls is a post-possession foul by a team during a scrimmage kick.

given below are some more reactions mentioned:

 

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